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| GRANITE CITY PARISH SAYS FAREWELL Bishop Anoushavan presided in Granite City last Sunday over the farewell events for the pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian. Der Stephan celebrated the Divine Liturgy, during which the encyclical of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia was read, granting him the privilege of wearing the pectoral cross. This privilege was given to him in recognition of his five years of service as a priest of the Armenian Church and to the Eastern Prelacy. A large crowd gathered at the St. Gregory Armenian Community Center for a farewell banquet for Der Hayr & Yeretsgin Alice and their two children, Nishan and Hovhaness. Joining the clergy and the faithful that day from Watertown were Der Hayr’s parents, Archpriest Fr. Antranig & Yn. Arpineh Baljian, as well as Yeretsgin Alice’s sister, Ani Chobanian, a student at St. Stephen’s Saturday and Sunday Schools, as well as a second level student at the St. Gregory of Datev Institute. Der Antranig thanked the entire parish for the warm welcome and hospitality it had shown his son and daughter-in-law for the five years they lived in Granite City. He admitted that although he was very happy that his children and grandchildren would be geographically closer, he also understood through experience the bittersweet nature of this parting. He promised he would pray for the Granite City community’s continued strength and dedication during the absence of a permanent pastor, and for a smooth transition once a new Der Hayr and Yeretsgin are assigned to lead the church. In his remarks, on behalf of the Baljian family, Der Stephan thanked the Board of Trustees, the Farewell Banquet Committee and the entire parish for the magnificent send-off and for the gift of the banquet and the new pectoral cross. He thanked every church body and community organization for their hard work and devotion during his tenure. He advised them to be courageous during this next phase in the parish’s history and to continue to meet challenges with bravery and conviction. On behalf of the Prelate and Religious and Executive Councils, Bishop Anoushavan thanked Der Hayr and commended him for his five years of service to the Granite City community. He reassured the community that the Prelate and Councils are working to provide a new pastor for the parish as soon as possible and told them to continue to work together as a strong church community. Following the banquet, an organ recital, sponsored by the church’s Holy Seraphim Choir, was given by St. Louis organist, Dan Vizer. In addition to some of Der Hayr’s favorite instrumental selections heard on the organ, Der Hayr provided two vocal selections, the hymns Varanimk i Meghats and Nor Dzaghig. The program ended with an original composition by Der Hayr, followed by the choir’s singing of the Lord’s Prayer. Yeretsgin Alice has already arrived in Massachusetts with their two sons. Der Stephan will be in Granite City this Sunday, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Assumption, and preside over the Blessing of the Grapes and the parish’s annual picnic. Soon thereafter, he will head to North Andover, where he will begin his service as the pastor of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley.
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|  | Bishop Anoushavan with Archpriest Fr. Antranig, Yn. Arpineh Baljian, Rev. Fr. Stephan, and Yn. Alice Baljian, and their young sons, Nishan and Hovhaness. | |
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|  | A farewell cake affirmed everyone’s feelings: “Good Luck Der Hayr & Yn. & Sons. We Will Miss You.” | |  | An organ recital followed the banquet. | |
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| ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN PRESIDES AT BLESSING OF GRAPE Archbishop Oshagan presided at the Blessing of Grapes ceremony and blessing of Madagh, last Sunday, August 11, during the traditional picnic sponsored by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, at Camp Haiastan in Franklin, Massachusetts. New England area pastors and altar servers participated.
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|  | Archbishop Oshagan presides during the Blessing of the Grapes. From left, Archpriest Fr. Aram Stepanian, pastor of St. Asdvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, V. Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishyan, Archbishop Oshagan, and Archpriest Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island. | |  | Deacons and altar servers at the Blessing of the Grapes. | | | |
| VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO WHITINSVILLE Bishop Anoushavan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, this Sunday, August 18. His Grace will also officiate the Blessing of the Grapes ceremony with the participation of New England area clergy, and preside over the parish’s picnic that will follow.
HAYR SAHAG BEGINS SERVICE TO PRELACY V. Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishyan arrived in New York on August 5 to begin his service to the Eastern Prelacy. Hayr Sourp was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1983. He studied at the Armenian Theological Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon, for nine years and was ordained a celibate priest in 2006. He served the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia for four years as director of the Archives and lecturer at the Seminary. For the past three years he served as pastor to the Armenian community of Salonica, Greece. Very Rev. Fr. Sahag is currently serving the Prelacy as an outreach priest and is expected to be assigned as pastor of a parish within the coming two months. We welcome Hayr Sourp and wish him the very best.
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|  | V. Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishyan with deacons, altar servers, and choir members at St. Stephen’s Church in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the Sermon last Sunday. | |
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| ANEC TEACHERS SEMINAR ON SEPTEMBER The Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) is sponsoring a seminar for teachers on Saturday, September 7, 2013, at the Prelacy headquarters in Manhattan. All schools and teachers are invited to participate. Several lectures and an open discussion are scheduled. For more information
click here.
SERIES OF SEMINARS ON MODERN ARMENIAN LITERATURE St. Illuminator Cathedral and the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) is sponsoring a series of seminars, “A Brief Introduction to Modern Armenian Literature,” to be presented by Dr. Vartan Matiossian, ANEC Executive Director, beginning Thursday, September 5 and continuing every Thursday through to October 3, at the Cathedral’s Pashalian Hall. The seminars will comprise an introduction, and independent overviews of Western Armenian, Eastern Armenian, Diasporan, and Soviet and post-Soviet Armenian literature. For more information
click here.
GRAPE BLESSING FOR RESIDENTS OF HOME IN FLUSHING V. Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishyan and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, together with some parishioners visited the Armenian Home for the Aged in Flushing, New York, yesterday. Hayr Sahag and Der Mesrob conducted the Blessing of the Grapes ceremony for the residents and staff of the Home. Hayr Sourp explained the significance of the centuries-old tradition of the grape blessing prior to the ceremony. Afterwards he greeted and blessed each of the residents individually and presented each a bag of the blessed grapes. On this occasion, Board of Trustees members Yervant Kasparian and Antranig Vartanian presented a gift of five hundred dollars to the Home on behalf of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral.
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|  | V. Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishyan, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, and parishioners of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral with staff members of the Home for the Aged in Flushing, New York. | |
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| MRS. MARY MERDKHANIAN -YARALIAN APPOINTED PRINCIPAL The Pastor, Board of Trustees, and Saturday School Committee recently announced the appointment of Mrs. Mary Merdkhanian-Yaralian as the principal of the Cathedral’s Saturday School. Mrs. Yaralian was born in Aleppo, Syria. She graduated from the Karen Jeppe Armenian College and went on to study law at Aleppo State University. For five year she studied Armenology at the Aleppo Mkhitarian School, and for a short time studied Armenian philology at Yerevan State University. As an Armenian language and religion teacher, she taught at the Armenian Gulbenkian School. She served on the editorial staff of Aleppo’s only Armenian newspaper Kantsasar and was the newspaper’s chief editor from 1998-2003. She moved to New York in 2003 where she completed a degree in paralegal studies. From 2008-2010 she taught at St. Illuminator’s Day School. She is currently employed as a paralegal at a law firm. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s, welcomed the new appointment and said, “We are confident that Mrs. Merdkhanian-Yaralian’s background and experience, rich in Armenology and instruction, will be a great resource for the education of our students.”
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|  | Mary Medkhanian-Yaralian, recently appointed principal of St. Illuminator’s Saturday School, with kindergarten graduates.
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| BIBLE READINGS Bible readings for Sunday, August 18, Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Song of Songs 4:9-15; 8:14; Isaiah 7:10-16; Galatians 3:29-4:7; Luke 2:1-7. Lections for blessing of grapes: Proverbs 3:9-10; Isaiah 65:8-10; Hebrews 6:16-7:7; John 15:1-8. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (John 15:1-8) For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings
click here.
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| FEAST OF SHOGHAKAT OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN This Saturday, August 17, is the Feast of Shoghakat of Holy Etchmiadzin that is always observed on the Saturday prior to the Feast of the Assumption. Shoghakat refers to the vision of St. Gregory and the rays of light when God chose the site for the Mother Cathedral. The feast is celebrated at the time of Assumption because the Cathedral in Etchmiadzin is named in honor of the Holy Mother, although through the years it became known as Etchmiadzin and Shoghakat sometimes refers to the three nearby churches of St. Gayaneh, St. Hripsimeh, built by Gregory the Illuminator, and the 17th century St. Shoghakat.
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD The Blessed Virgin Mary holds a high place in the Armenian Church, next to Christ. We begin our Divine Liturgy with these words, “Through the intercession of the holy Mother of God, O Lord, receive our supplications and save us.” In every Armenian Church the painting on the main altar is of Mary, holding the infant Savior. The Gospels teach us that Mary was blessed and called by God to fulfill God’s divine plan of salvation. Mary has a primary place of honor because through her and by the Holy Spirit God became incarnate, became human. This Sunday, August 18, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption (Verapokhoum) of the Holy Mother of God, the fourth of the five major feast days in our Liturgical Calendar, and the Blessing of the Grapes. Verapokhoum in classical Armenian means “transport up.” According to tradition, when the Holy Mother died she was buried by the apostles. Bartholomew who was not present at her funeral wanted to visit her grave. When the gravestone was lifted they were surprised to find that her body had disappeared. It was believed that Christ had come and taken his mother to the Heavenly Kingdom. Based on this event, the Church Fathers established the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is one of the five tabernacle feast days in the Armenian Church’s liturgical calendar. The feast is preceded by a week (five days) of fasting and followed by a memorial day. Because Bartholomew was very fond of the Holy Mother, the apostle John gave him an image of her (which she had given to John). Bartholomew took this image with him to Armenia to Darbnots Kar in the province of Antsev, Vaspourakan (Western Armenia) where a convent for nuns, Hogyats Vank (Monastery of the Spirits), was built and where the icon was kept. Most depictions of Bartholomew show him holding this icon. The concept of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is old as evidenced in sacred prose and poetry dedicated to the Holy Mother. However, it did not become a basic doctrine of the church until the ninth century and it was in the twelfth century that the feast was called “The Assumption.” This Sunday is the name day for those named Mariam, Maro, Mary, Mari, Mayrenie, Maroush, Serpouhi, Dirouhi, Takouhi, Lousig, Arpine, Arpenig, Markarid, Nazig, Azniv, Arousiag, Seta, Verzhin, and Arshalouys.
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| BLESSING OF THE GRAPES The Blessing of the Grapes takes place on the Feast of the Assumption, although there is no connection between the two holidays. This ceremony is rooted in the Biblical tradition as commanded by God to the Israelites, through Moses, to donate the “first bearing of all their fruits, on the Tabernacle in order that with this first offering all fruits would receive Your blessing…” The hymn Park Sourb Khatchet (Glory to Your Sacred Cross) is sung; Biblical passages are recited, followed by a prayer composed by Catholicos Nerses Shnorhali specifically for this occasion. After the prayer, the grapes are blessed three times with the words Orhnestsee Bahbanestsee and then the blessed grapes are distributed to the faithful, many of whom have refrained from eating grapes this year until after this blessing. Certainly we can say that the Blessing of the Grapes is a celebration of the fruitfulness of the earth. Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. Noah planted a vineyard immediately after disembarking from the Ark (Genesis, Chapter 9) in Nakhichevan, Armenia. And, of course, the wine of the Divine Liturgy comes from grapes. Bless, O Lord, the grape plants and vineyards from which these grapes are taken and presented to the holy church, and make them bountiful and fruitful; let them be like good and fertile land, protect the vineyard from all kinds of misfortune and destruction which come from above because of our sins, from hail, from cold, from hot winds, and from destructive insects, so that we may enjoy that which You have created in this world for our enjoyment and for Your glory, and grant that we may be worthy to eat and drink with You from the bounty of Your most fruitful vine at the table of Your Father’s Kingdom, according to the just promise which You made, to the honor and glory of Your coexisting Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the most Holy Spirit to whom is due glory, power, and honor, now and forever. Amen.
(From the prayer written by Catholicos Nerses Shnorhali for the Blessing of the Grapes)
REMEMBRANCE OF THE DEAD (MEMORIAL DAY) Monday, August 19, is Memorial Day (Merelotz). In accordance with the tradition of the Armenian Church, the day after each of the five tabernacle feasts is designated as a Memorial Day, a day of remembrance of the dead. Traditionally, on Merelotz the Divine Liturgy is celebrated with a requiem service for all souls and for those specifically requested. Following the service the clergy and faithful would go to the cemeteries where the graves were individually blessed.
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| NEWS FROM THE CATHOLICOSATE
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| ISSUES AND PERSPECTIVES: A NEW COLLECTION BY ARAM A new book titled “Issues and Perspectives,” was issued this week by the Cilician Press that brings together recent writings in English by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia. His Holiness addresses current issues with an interactive approach and a holistic way. “One cannot resolve issues by evading them nor oppose them by simply disagreeing with them or undermining their importance,” the Catholicos writes in his Introduction. “Those committed to serving humanity must discern and confront issues, provide perspective, and seek solutions.” His Holiness is acutely aware that the world has undergone a tremendous change, driven by the explosion in the technology of information and communication. He maintains that we are all part of cyberspace and are wired into networks that instantly connect people of all places, races, religions, and cultures, even in the remotest corners of the globe. The essays included in this new collection are: Rediscovering the Missio Dei: A Call to the Churches; Catholicity: Its Implications and Imperatives; Gregory of Narek: Our Eternal Contemporary; Identity: A Source of Unity and Division; Cilician Culture: A Culture of Dialogue; The Armenian Genocide: From Recognition to Reparation; The Role of Religion in the Context of Changing Societies; Religion in the Geopolitics of the Middle East; Living as a Community with Islam; The Future of Christianity in the Middle East; The Arab Spring and the Christian Communities; Mutual Trust: The Basis of Cohabitation; Notes from my Ecumenical Diary.
LIVE TELEVISION BROADCAST FROM BIKFAYA On the occasion of the Feast of St. Mary’s Assumption, the Noursat Broadcast will be broadcasting LIVE via satellite the Holy Mass presided over by His Holiness Aram I, on Saturday, August 17, from St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon. - Sydney (Australia - New South Wales) Sunday, August 12, 2013 at 3:00:00 AM
- Montreal (Canada - Quebec) Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 1:00:00 PM
- Doha (Qatar) Saturday, August 11, 2013 at 8:00:00 PM
- Los Angeles (U.S.A. - California) Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 10:00:00 AM
- Boston (U.S.A. - Massachusetts) Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 1:00:00 PM
- Las Vegas (U.S.A. - Nevada) Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 10:00:00 AM
- New York (U.S.A. - New York) Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 1:00:00 PM
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| THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY Prepared by the Armenian National education Committee (ANEC)
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| Birth of Megerdich Beshigtashlian (August 18, 1828) Megerdich Beshigtashlian was a pioneering writer and public figure of Western Armenian society, considered the founder of modern lyric poetry among Armenians. He was born in Constantinople, and received his primary education at the school of the Mekhitarist Congregation in the suburb of Pera (today Beyoglu) from 1834-1839. He continued his studies at the Samuel-Moorat school of Padua, in Italy, until 1845. The atmosphere of the Italian liberation movement would greatly impact over his intellectual formation. He returned to Constantinople and became a widely-sought teacher. He taught Armenian language and literature, as well as French in the Tarkmanchats, Loosavorchian, and Hripsimiants Schools. He was particularly successful in teaching the language to Armenian children who spoke foreign languages. For instance, since the late 1850s he was the Armenian teacher of Serpouhi Vahanian (1842-1901), who at first disdained the language, as she had grown speaking French. However, Beshigtashlian’s patient work engaged her student, who later would become a pioneering feminist writer in Armenian literature, Serpouhi Dussape (after marrying her French music teacher, Paul Dussape, in 1870). Beshigtashlian is considered the founder of Western Armenian theater on a permanent basis. He organized a theater group in 1856, which started to stage plays in ashkharhapar (Modern Armenian). This was an important advance, as plays were performed in krapar (Classical Armenian), becoming an obstacle for popular success. He wrote various plays with historical subjects, seeking to awaken national feelings among the public. He also translated various pieces from French and Italian with similar subjects. He also wrote musical comedies. Beshigtashlian was particularly active in the public sphere in the 1860s, with an important role in the preparation and approval of the National Constitution (1863). The writer also participated in the foundation of the Abnegated Society (Antznever Engerootioon), which functioned from 1860-1863 and was devoted to education, but also helped financially and morally the rebels of Zeytoon in 1862. He was also the driving force behind the Alumni Association of the Moorat-Raphaelian school between 1858 and 1868. However, Beshigtashlian’s main contribution to Armenian literature was his poetry. His output was not very big, some 60 poems, but it was quite varied. His poetry, in Classical and Modern Armenian, touched subjects such as love, nature, and homeland. He wrote children’s poems, elegies, etcetera. He published his first poem in 1849. His two most famous poems, “We Are Brothers” and “Spring,” were later set to music. The first was a call of unity to Western Armenians, while the second was a romantic love song to the homeland. He wrote several poems dedicated to the rebellion of Zeytoon. Beshigtashlian passed away at the age of 40, on November 29, 1868. He inaugurated a list of famous Armenian poets who died from the “romantic disease”: tuberculosis.
Previous entries in “This Week in Armenian History” can be read on the Prelacy’s web site (
www.armenianprelacy.org).
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| ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
Prepared by the Armenian National education Committee (ANEC)
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| Show and Tell It may sound unbelievable at first sight, but the English word show and its Armenian counterpart ցոյց (tsooyts) have the same root. Both come from the Proto-Indo-European (P.I.-E.) word *(s)ḱou-, *(s)ḱeu- (“to heed, look, feel, take note of”), and have the following evolution:
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| | English | Armenian | | P.I.E. *(s)ḱou-, *(s)ḱeu- ("to heed, look, feel, take note of") | P.I.E. *(s)ḱou-, *(s)ḱeu- ("to heed, look, feel, take note of") | | Proto-Germanic *skauwōną, *skawwōną ("to look, see") | P.I.E. *(s)ḱeu-sk | | Old English scēawian ("to look, look at, observe, gaze, behold, see") | ts-ooy-ts | | Middle English schewen, schawen, scheawen, | | |
King James English shew | | | show | |
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| Curiously enough, today the English word show (as in “I went to see a show”) cannot be translated as tsuyts; there is no exact word for that meaning. When we use the noun tsuyts, we can only mean “demonstration,” be it a proof or a protest meeting. However, tsuyts has originated many useful compounds, such as ապացոյց (abatsooyts “evidence”), ժամանակացոյց (jamanagatsooyts “schedule”), նստացոյց (nsdatsooyts “sit-in”), ուղեցոյց (ughetsooyts “guide”), օրացոյց (oratsooyts “calendar”), ցուցակ (tsootsag “catalogue”), ցուցահանդէս (tsootsahantes “exhibition”), ցուցամատ (tsootsamad “index finger”), and others. The reader may notice that, according to a standard rule of Armenian, all root words with uy turn it into u [oo] when adding one or more syllables to form a new word. For example: լոյս (looys “light”) – լուսաւորել (loosavorel “to illuminate”). This is why the first syllable of all words starting (but not ending) with tsooyts above has become tsoots. This standard rule is also applied to the verb ցուցադրել (tsootsatrel), literally “to put into show,” e.g. “to exhibit.” Strangely enough, it does not seem to work for many people, old and young, who cannot pronounce or spell the verb . . . “to show.” Instead of the regular form ցուցնել (tsootsenel), we hear and, sometimes, we read time and again a “verb” that is plainly wrong: ցցնել (tsetsenel) If you are not convinced that it is wrong, think for one second: the root of the “verb” tsetsenel, according to another standard rule (roots with oo and ee take the sound schwa when they form a new word), could only be ցուց (tsoots), a word that does not exist in Armenian, or ցից (tseets), which means “stake” (a piece of wood). What relation may exist between showing something and staking it out Therefore, show and tell: ցուցնել, not ցցնել. Previous entries in the “Armenian Language Corner” can be read on the Prelacy’s web site (
www.armenianprelacy.org).
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| SYRIAN ARMENIANS IN NEED A new mass appeal for funds has been mailed out and should be received soon. The first appeal sent out last year provided much needed assistance of food, housing, and medical care for our Armenian community of Syria. We need your continued assistance so there will be no interruption of humanitarian aid. Please respond as generously as possible. You may also make your donation to the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief right now. Donations can be made on-line (see below) or can be mailed to the Armenian Prelacy, 138 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016. PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT. DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW
CLICK HERE AND SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU. The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic Eparchy; Armenian Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation. Thank you for your help.
“How blessed is he who considers the helpless;
The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble.”
Psalm 41:1
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THE LIGHTS WENT OUT TEN YEARS AGO
Ten years ago, on August 14, 2003, a major outage halted power across the eastern United States and parts of Canada. At 4:10 pm, Eastern Daylight Time, 21 power plants shut down in a span of just three minutes, affecting more than fifty million people. The outage trapped people in subways, trains, elevators, and disrupted everything including cellular service, airport travel, computers, pumps that serve high-rise buildings with water. New Yorkers were still jittery over the 9/11 attacks and rumors began circulating about terrorism. American and Canadian power companies exchanged blame on each other for the massive outage. Eventually it was found that the shutdown originated with FirstEnergy Corporation of Ohio. One plant shut down because of overgrown trees that quickly resulted in a massive chain reaction of outages. There were no incidents of looting in New York. People tried to help each other, especially the elderly and shut-ins. In New York City alone, the cost of the blackout topped $500 million.
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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS August 16, 17, 18—Armenian Fest and Blessing of the Grapes, All Saints Armenian Church, 1701 N. Greenwood, Glenview, Illinois. For information: 847-998-1989. August 18—Annual Picnic of Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 12 noon on the church grounds, 315 Church Street, Whitinsville, immediately following the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian who will also officiate the Blessing of the Grapes ceremony with the participation of New England clergy. Delicious Armenian food, homemade baked goods. Listen and dance to traditional live Armenian music by the Mugrditchian Band. For information: 508-234-3677. August 18—St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Blessing of the Grapes and Family Fun Picnic, at Lakeshore Park, 601 South Lake Drive, Novi, Michigan. Food, music, dancing, magic show, volleyball, soccer, tavlou tournament, mountain biking, swimming. August 18—Sts. Vartanantz Church, New Jersey, Annual Picnic and Blessing of the Grapes, 1-5 pm at Saddle River County Parki, Wild Duck Pond area. Music, delicious Armenian food and desserts, arts and crafts and playground for children, cards, and tavloo, and more. August 18—Assumption of the Holy Mother of God and Annual “Blessing of the Grapes” picnic following the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Granite City, Illinois; 12 Noon-3:30 pm. Blessing of Grapes will take place at 11:45 am. Tasty shish kebab and chicken kebab dinners will be sold. Armenian breads and pastries along with other delicacies will be for sale. Armenian dancing and activities for children of all ages. Free admission. September 5 to October 3—“A Brief Introduction to Modern Armenian Literature,” a series of five seminars presented on Thursdays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City. Sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) and the Cathedral. Presented by Vartan Matiossian, Ph.D. September 7—Teachers’ Seminar sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) at the Prelacy offices, 138 E. 39th Street, New York City, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Details will follow. September 8—Picnic Festival, St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North Andover, Massachusetts, 12:30 to 5:30 pm, featuring Armenian music by Leon Janikian, Jason Naroian, Joe Kouyoumjian, John Arzigian, along with Siroun Dance Group. Armenian food and pastries. For details www.saintgregory.org September 15—Book Presentation at Pashalian Hall, St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York, of “One Church One Nation” by Hrair Hawk Khatcherian. September 21—St. Illuminator’s Cathedral’s “Huyser” Music Ensemble presents “The Sound of Freedom,” a celebration of independence, at the Frank Sinatra School of Arts, Tony Bennett Concert Hall, 35-12 35th Avenue, Astoria, New York, at 7:30 pm. Tickets $25—$35. For information: 212-689-5880. October 5—Symposium “Armenian Women as Artists and Mothers,” 2-6 pm, sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) at St. Illuminator Cathedral Pashalian Hall, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, in celebration of the Year of the Mother of the Armenian Family. Lecturers: Jennifer Manoukian (Columbia University), “Zabel Yessayan: Mother and Activist,”; Vartan Matiossian (ANEC), “Armen Ohanian: An Armenian Woman of the World,” and Melissa Bilal (Columbia University), “Lullabies and Tears: On Armenian Grandmothers and Granddaughters in Istanbul.” October 19—Armenian Friends of America presents “Hye Kef 5” featuring musicians Leon Janikian, Joe Kouyoumjian, Greg Takvorian, Ken Kalajian, Ron Raphaelian, and Jay Baronian, 7:30-12:30, Michael’s Function Hall, 12 Alpha Street, Haverhill, Massachusetts. Proceeds to benefit all Armenian churches in Merrimack Valley and New Hampshire. Tickets: $40 adults; $30 students; includes individually-served mezza platters. For information/reservations: John Arzigian 603-560-3826; Sandy Boroyan 978-251-8687; Scott Sahagian 617-699-3581; Peter Gulezian 978-375-1616. October 27—90th anniversary celebration of St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate. Immediately after the Divine Liturgy at the church’s Founders Hall, 8701 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128. November 1 & 2—St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 57th Armenian Bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm, at Armenian Cultural & Educational Center, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown. Delicious meals (take-out available), Armenian pastries, Arts and Crafts, Books, Raffles, Attic Treasures, Auctions, and more. For information: 617-924-7562. November 15-16-17—Annual Bazaar, Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey. November 17—Banquet and Program celebrating the “Year of the Armenian Mother,” organized by the Eastern Prelacy, at Terrace in the Park, Flushing Meadows Park, New York. Watch for details.
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Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site. To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add email@armenianprelacy.org to your address book. Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit Crossroads as the source. Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to: info@armenianprelacy.org
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